The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-09-24

L
that the ranks of the independent voters
will be largely increased this fall in
Cecil county. We have no desire to
indulge in reckless statement or ex-
travagant assertion, but still we believe,
that when the votes to be cast for
county officers on the eighth day Of
November next are counted, there will
be found in the ballot boxes of the
nine districts of this county, greater
number of "cut" tickets than straight
ballots. We regard this condition as
favorable sign Of the times, because
no more pernicious doctrine ever dis
graced our politics, than the old parti-
Fan MAXIM, chat tie worst man on
our side, is better than the best man
on the other side" The complete
sacrifice of the right of individual opin-
ion as to the character of candidates,
which this maxim involved the abso-
lste surrender of private judgment,
which it is the tendency of all partizan
political organizations to demand of
their members, have been the prolific
sources of most of the evils of our poll
teal system. The subservience of in
dividuals to the demands of party man
ayers, constitutes the slavery of party,
and Is repugnant to every honest con-
viction. We have experienced in Cecil
county many of the evils entailed by
that subservience, to the Regularity"
of party nominations, until the Domi-
nant party IN the State has become a
''machine'' of which the Dem oCratlc
voters are regarded by the managers of
it, as merely necessary parts of the
machine" itself, entitled to nc opin-
ions, and expected to hold none. But
the State managers, as well as their in
dustrious representatives in this county
will find to their ultimate cost, that
there is a spirit OF independence abroad
in Maryland, which rejects the 'ma-
chine view of party, and which de-
demands in unmistakable voice, that
public interest and public welfare,
shall be the ends of party, and to which
the partizan rewards for political service
shall be subordinated. Indeed it is
nothing less than the conviction that
there is no such thing as the exercise
of independent political opinion, or
judgment in Maryland today, but a
complete subserviency of individual
opinion to the wills of the managers Of
the dominant party in the State, that
has excited the general discomfort and
distrust now everywhere prevalent in
Maryland. What significance tor in
stance is to be attached to such indie
pendent movements as that now being
witnessed in Baltimore and in other
sections of the State? Such movements
are unusual, if not unprecedented in the
history of the Democratic party in
Maryland. Must there not be some
thing radically wrong in the organiza-
ton Of that party, when such men as
Mr.. Cowan, General Stewart Brown,
Col. Chas. Marshall, c. Morton Stewart,
William keyser, S. Teackle Wallis, with
scores of other Democrats equally
reputable, as men and equally conspi-
cious as citizens of that city, enter their
protest against prevailing Democratic
methods, and repudiate their party
They confess openly their conviction that
their party managers are not fit custo-
dams of public trusts. These gentle
men and those whom they represent
are not office seekers, they are not dis
appointed aspirants for political place,
they are simply citizens, property hold
ers, and taxpayers in the principal city
of the State, who convinced that the
public welfare demands change IN the
local administration of the affairs of
that metropolis, and beng men who
possess the courage of their Convic-
tons, openly declare their intention to
support Mr.. David l.. Bartlett a staunch
Republican whose name has been pro-
posed for the office OF Mayor of that
city.
And why?
Not because they believe that no
equally capable man can be found in
the ranks Of the Democratic party of
that city, but because the men who
manage the Democratic politics of Bal
timore, will only aAl0a such a man in
that office, as they can control, or is of
their own choosing. Their expressed
preference for the Republican candi-
date, is the result of their conviction of
his fitness for the position for which he